Sew Many Starts

I must be fully recovered from my gallbladder issues of the first half of this year because I've been very anxious to do some quilting again. I took a mini inventory of my current ufo's and made a list of the 12 that I'd like most to complete soon. Notice I didn't say this year. I wanted to say this summer but I'm being realistic. Actually some are small and near completion. And since I know the quilt is finished when the top is done, the end of summer is a real possibility for at least half of them. I'd really like to see a number of these actually quilted so may put them on the tentative quilting schedule for this fall. So this is how I plan dream.


Next I will need to prioritize these things. I will probably order them starting with those that are nearest completion. I have several where the blocks are done, the setting design and fabrics have been chosen, and even cut.Those that need a bunch cut will wait till I am in the mood to cut. Maybe I will bring them back to the house from Studio 3 so I will have something to work on here besides quilting on the long arm. I still want to do some of that but for some reason I find the Studio in The Cellar really cold this summer.

I was home when I made my list. I should have opened the boxes of ufo's in the closet. But those aren't what I would call active ufo's. I was thinking only of those that I have started or planned recently (the last year maybe). Those are all at Studio 3. When I went there after making the list I found more I'd forgotten about. Isn't that always the way? So those have been added to the list, one at the top and one at the bottom. This is the most current.



I was interrupted since I started this post and had a chance to work at Studio 3 a little more. While there, I calculated and cut the setting fabric for 1 and finished the star blocks for the one shown above. Those little darlings are only 4" finished.  It evolved from 1 1/2" strips cut for sashing for another quilt I don't even remember. It seems I would rather start a quilt from leftovers than from scratch. Anyway I've been interested in making some small quilts since I've started using them on my dining room table. I don't know what took me so long to put them there.  I never was one for tablerunners or placemats, but a small quilt that comes to the edge of the table, I love.  I haven't decided anything about the borders yet because I want it to fit the table I will wait till the center is done and I will know how much space is available for a border. May be this one doesn't get one.

And as it turns out today I chose to work on what I needed alone time to think about and what was at the sewing machine. So much for what was nearest completion. That I brought home so I had something to work on here.

I've joined the linky parties at
Small Quilts and Doll Quilts for Design Wall Monday with link at right. 
 I hope I got that right- there are so many blogs to enjoy out there.
I found another I think I will enjoy.
It's Beth Sellers Main Crush Monday at Main Crush Monday

Browse here and there and be inspired, then good luck quilting!


 

Juggling Hats

A few weeks ago I started using my Civil War scraps to make these Union Square blocks at Studio 3. Maybe you know this block as Contrary Wife. I kinda liked them all scrappy.

After just making a few I decided not to make the big triangles scrappy. Mainly cause I didn't have those sizes already cut and leftover from another project like all the little pieces. I decided I like these too.

Next thing you know, I  want use even more different fabrics so cut some more little triangles. May as well plan to use one color small triangle per block. And the blue block I found in my pile of orphan blocks. I have no idea when I made it. These I like the best but still don't have a problem with the others.

 Now I need to decide if I want to use all of them together in the same quilt. And why not? And since I didn't start with a plan I need to decide the setting and number I need... Sometimes I stay after class and sew aimlessly. Can you tell?

I've been juggling all kinds of things lately. Classes and my own projects at both Studio 3 and here. Then there are orders to fill  and vending a show and Quilt Market in Houston. I still help our fella friend out with a few things and tomorrow is quilting at church. That one doesn't take much prep on my part, but I am taking things there that I need to gather. It has been difficult to stay inside and work when it's been so pretty out in the woods. I took a walk today and scattered some of the many wildflower seeds I collected earlier.

Preparing for quilt Market has been a bigger job than I thought. Silly me. I thought I didn't have much to do to get ready just cause all the quilt were quilted. Glad I thought to make room and airline reservations a few months ago. But besides that I also should have ordered early the other stuff I need for my booth and could have saved some money. Lots of details to consider. Glad I've done it before cause  I don't feel stressed, just busy.Pretty much just have to pack it all in the suitcases now. That means there is time to join in the Linky parties at Stitch by Stitch and Patchwork Times.

Ready, Set, Go

Back from Louisville and all unpacked. Unfortunately the show was not well attended, but we had a good time. The vendors are all so nice and in the same boat. Always talk in a situation like that and it was pretty much agreed on that there are just tooooo many big shows.

 I sorted as I unpacked with my next trip in mind  to Houston quilt market in a few weeks. Not much to get ready for that trip so this afternoon I gave some thought to the sampler classes and what blocks we are doing next. All ready for that, I then went through some of my orphan blocks and am now considering getting back to making a few more sampler blocks to go with these 5 batik orphans.

Of course if I decide to do that, I would put it toward the bottom of the list as I have a few other projects in mind. OH WHY did I pull out that pile of orphans???

I looked for my setting fabric while I was gone but had no luck so I guess it is off to Sawdust and Stitches to find it. No doubt it will be there. Maybe Wednesday. Sharon will like that!

I think its Monday so I will link this post to Patchwork Times  and check out what everyone else is up to. See you around.